101st Pendleton Roundup~We Survived Another!

~Sometimes at night, I lie awake

thinking of faraway places.~

~Martha Lloyd 1904~

This was my 15th consecutive year to attend one of the biggest rodeos in the nation; the Pendleton Roundup. You know how I dislike change...well, in those 15 years, there really hasn't been all that much change. We see the same people year after year, we've parked our living quarters horse trailer in the same place, we walk everywhere we go, we eat at many of the same places...it's almost the feeling of deja vu!

My first attempt at doing something in PhotoShop Elements.
I put two photos together.

There were some pretty big changes last year for the 100th Anniversary. The West bleachers were replaced with a covered grandstand, the statue (below) was put in, and the whole front cyclone fence was replaced with a brick and wrought iron fence.

But really, that's about all that's changed.

Is My Man "tough enough to wear pink?"
I think so!
Every Thursday is Tough Enough to Wear Pink day
to raise breast cancer awareness and funds for that cause.

We scored some North grandstand tickets for Thursday, so it's always fun to sit up behind the chutes and watch the action.

As we walked around to the North side, I spied this group of rough stock horses...I do believe they were deep in conversation among themselves as to how best whip the cowboys that day!

"Hey Pard...which cowboy did you draw today?"

Every grand entry is always emotional and sets the stage for a great rodeo!

This is the man who is responsible for opening the chute gate for every cowboy.
He definitely takes the job seriously...which is a good thing.

Cowboy LifeSavers...I enjoy watching them and their awesome horses
just as much as watching the contestants.

Joe Baumgartner doing what he does best...saving a cowboy.
Pendleton was his last rodeo...he's retiring from fighting bulls.
He's been at every Roundup since I've been going.
What an awesome athlete he is...and he'll be missed by everyone.

There's always something good to look at...

I'm lookin' at the horse's butt...whatcha think I was talkin' 'bout?   hee hee!!

The Indian relay racers are totally crazy...but they're sure good at what they do!

Running full bore...bareback...amazing!

Friday morning's parade was the usual "Fantastic"...no motorized vehicles...just horses, mules, and oxen.

These four followed the American flag...and behind them
came 100 more riders carrying American flags...totally inspiring.

The native Americans play a very large part of the Roundup....since the rodeo's inception 101 years ago. Saturday morning, we watched some of the dance competitions. The costumes, drums, and chanting were awesome. I took some video and will get that posted later...it really gives you the true appreciation of how hard they work to carry on their tribe's tradition and history. Tribes from all over the country come to participate.

Different costumes signify the tribes.

You can see the bells on this dancer. Only the men dancers wore the bells.
I loved the colors of their beading.

In the old days, I'm sure the Indians wore actual animal skins.
In the modern age, I suppose PETA would be all over them.
I'd prefer to see the true traditions.

I suppose we'll be back again next year...until then...Let 'er Buck!

Sunday Stills~People

This week's Sunday Stills photo challenge  is People. I actually realized this week that I enjoy taking candid photos of people...finding angles, facial expressions and body positions that make the photo interesting is fun. It actually may be my favorite thing to photograph.

Yesterday, My Man, Colt, Cindy Sue and I drove down to the Roaring Springs Ranch for our local cutting club competition. It was a beautiful day despite the thunder storm that drenched us for a good 10 minutes first thing...then the sun came out nicely!

I'll let the photos speak for themselves~

OH...BTW...Colt & I rode in two classes. We rode up into the class above "our class" and it was disastrous...I didn't have my head on straight...totally my fault...we scored a 60 (the lowest score you can get except for being disqualified with a no score). But, I really learned from my mistakes and we won our class with a 70 1/2 score!!! Colt did awesome!!!


Then last weekend was the annual Harney County Ranch Hand Rodeo...I didn't get very good action shots (just the one below), but I enjoyed the people shots...




















OK...this next one may not look like people...but he was watchin' the rodeo like the rest of us...he thought he was people!!!




Check out the other Sunday Stills participants by going HERE and you'll find links in the comments.

Have a great Sunday!!

Sunday Stills~Your Best Shot of 2010

~I plan on growing old much later in life,

or maybe not at all.~

~Patty Carey 1901~

Well, this Sunday Stills Challenge was definitely a challenge!! I couldn't just pick one, and I think a lot of the participants are going to have the same problem!!

But, I did get it whittled down to my fav five...and in no particular order...

Thank goodness for the 20x zoom.
This was taken at the Pendleton Roundup from our seats.
What I like most is the similar facial expressions on the rider and the horse...just a bit worried!

This brandin' photo has an innocence about it that I just love.

Again, one of those lucky shots sitting in my seat in the grandstand...action and confusion!

I like how this shot makes you feel right there...smell the hair a burnin' and feel the rope in your hands!
(I took this while sitting on my horse.)

This shot really captures the wide open spaces of the high desert in the Great Basin.
Coupled with a handsome horse and cowboy...it's one of those shots
 that I really wish I had a better camera for. But, it's not bad for takin' it while horseback.

That's it for me!

Head on over to the comments section of this post at Sunday Stills to find the links to all the other Top Shots of 2010! Enjoy!

Winter's Here I Guess!

~I listen to myself deep inside sometimes,

and it makes me strong.~

~Carrie Lucas 1878~

I've got so much work to do, I shouldn't be sitting here...but I'm going to blog anyhow!!!

Last weekend...uhhhh...that would be a week ago today...My Man and I, along with Cindy Sue 'n Bella Jo, headed to Central Oregon for the Columbia Circuit Finals Rodeo. We stayed with our good friends and had a great three days away from the ranch...lots of food, laughter and good times.

Three Sisters, Central Oregon

Yours truly, Cindy Sue & Bella Jo...one of those rare moments I let My Man have the camera!! ;~)

Mt. Jefferson, Central Oregon

The rodeo was a great time. We had second row seats with another friend of mine who's daughter is a PeeWee Rodeo princess. They were selling raffle tickets for the NFR...hmmmm...I wonder if I won?!?

World Champion, Bobby Mote, and his son presented Ol' Glory at the Columbia Circuit Finals Rodeo. This was so cool...they played the song titled Heartland from Pure Country where George Strait's lil' boy does the first part...it was almost a tear jerker!

I've yet to figure out indoor lighting with my camera. This setting is on ISO3200 and as long as things didn't move too fast, it came out OK...but grainy as you can see.

This lil' Buckaroo said he wanted to ride the bulls...his mom said she hopes he'll be a roper...only time will tell.

There's been more wild horses captured from the Ochoco National Forest where Dreamsicle resides. Horse number 705 in the photo below is one of them. The wranglers at the Corrals brought a group of geldings in for a photo shoot, luckily I got to be there. This handsome 3 year old is one of 6 captured. I'll post on them all. We sure would like to find adopters ASAP for them.

If you are interested at all, or know of someone who might be, please email. I'll get photos and info out to you.

Recently gathered wild horses awaiting adoption at the Burns Wild Horse Corrals.

Yesterday I finished getting ready for winter...and it arrived in the late afternoon. The yard got the leaves mowed up, all the garden stuff got picked up and stored away, the last of the tank heaters got put in, stalls were readied...and the temps were steadily dropping. Four o'clock it started spittin' snow, but thankfully the winds died down!

I forgot to bring in the picnic table! Anybody want to have a picnic?!?

It's not a huge blizzard or anything, but snow is in the forecast for the next week with temps in the mid 30's for highs and the teens for lows.

My favorite place to sit in the summer...

I'll be sitting here at my computer getting the December Horsefly ready for the next few days...watching the snow fall...dreaming of next summer when I can sit on my bench under the lilac tree again~

Wordless Wednesday

~When you're lookin' for a meal, a rattlesnake can do the trick.~

~Anonymous~

Interesting moments at the 2010 Pendleton Round-Up.

Check out other WW photos here!

Wordless Wednesday

~Sometimes I know that my mind is working too hard.~

~Carolyn Hardy 1890~

Hope this puts a smile on your face!! Happy Wordless Wednesday!